Home
›
News
›
FTC scolds Apple, Google and Microsoft for bad policing of children apps privacy disclosures

FTC scolds Apple, Google and Microsoft for bad policing of children apps privacy disclosures

Posted: 11 Dec 2012, 03:56, by Daniel P.

Categories: Apps Apps

Discuss 6

FTC scolds Apple, Google and Microsoft for bad policing of children apps privacy disclosures

The FTC came out with a report yesterday that mobile app developers are not doing enough to disclose the privacy implications of kids apps. The study notes that children-oriented applications include interactivity and information-sharing with third party services, which are not listed in the terms of agreement of the app that all parents should be reading before their kids engage in the game or educational software.

Out of 400 randomly selected such apps, about 60% were sending sensitive personal info to 3rd party services like ad networks and firms that do customer analytics.

Just 20% of the apps, however, felt the need to disclose the information about those data-collection practices in their descriptions, not to mention that a lot of them also link to social networks, or use geolocation.

All in all, the FTC scolded Apple, Google, Microsoft and the rest of the mobile platform companies for not doing a better job at policing their application stores regarding children privacy:

We haven’t seen any progress when it comes to making sure parents have the information they need to make informed choices about apps for their kids. All of the companies in the mobile app space, especially the gatekeepers of the app stores, need to do a better job.

source: WSJ

Discuss6

FM Radio support coming to Windows Phone 8 via software update? 11 Dec
Prev news

Intel to start mass production of 22nm phone and tablet chips in 2013, 11 Dec
Next news

6 Comments
Follow Following

Options

Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. wendygarett (limited) 6 days ago posted on 11 Dec 2012, 05:06 4 1

To be honest, Nintendo device remains a best device for children... I love Nintendo coz I'm a huge pokemon fans :p

4. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:31 0 0

Yeah, Nintendo is good, but the big three give kids access to browser and search. My kids have a 3DS and the Wii - they are not getting the Wii U.

2. mercorp posted on 11 Dec 2012, 09:53 0 0

Sadly they always stick to their own platforms....
Wonder if they will go bankrupt soon...

3. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:31 0 0

Hello!!!??? What about parents? My kids, unfortunately, have ipods and we do not let them surf porn and ban them from youtube if certain videos they are watching look inappropriate. Because they knew I will ban them a week from it, they always come and ask me first. Also, they cannot download anything without my passcode.
Now, as for Google, there should be an option that allows us to not only have a passcode required for paid apps and in-app purchase, but, also, for free stuff. Just in case.

5. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:35 0 0

The apps with Android tell you what info goes out. Kids on their ipods use the itunes account used by the family, so any info sent out is the same for any app. Use an Android phone to block the apps - I do the same for my kids as they use my old laptop and only use Chrome and we block info using Do not Track +.

Speaking of info transmitted from a computer - phonearena has this tracking us on their site:
Google Adsense Blocked here
Vibrant Ads Blocked here
Google Analytics Blocked here
NetShelter Blocked here
Quantcast Blocked here
Doubleclick Blocked here
Invite Media Blocked here
AdNexus Blocked here
Collective Media Blocked here

6. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:36 0 0

Shame on you, phonearena...but I blocked it all - even the social media junk.

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Samsung Galaxy S4
- Announced: 14 Mar 2013
- OS: Android 4.2.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1900 MHz, Krait 300, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.0 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
Apple iPhone 5
- Announced: 12 Sep 2012
- OS: iOS
- Hardware: Dual core, 1300 MHz, Apple Swift, 1016 MB RAM
- Display: 4.0 inches, 640 x 1136 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900), CDMA (800 1700/2100 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS EV-DO Rev.A EV-DO Rev.B
Samsung GALAXY Note II
- Announced: 29 Aug 2012
- OS: Android 4.1.2 4.1.1
- Hardware: Quad core, 1600 MHz, ARM Cortex-A9, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.5 inches, 720 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 35 hours of Talk Time, 980 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 21.1 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
HTC One
- Announced: 19 Feb 2013
- OS: Android 4.1.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1700 MHz, Krait 300, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 4 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900), CDMA (800 1900)
- Data: LTE HSPA (unspecified) UMTS EDGE GPRS
Sony Xperia Z
- Announced: 07 Jan 2013
- OS: Android 4.1.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 5.0 inches, 1080 x 1920 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13.1 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 11 hours of Talk Time, 550 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
Google Nexus 4
- Announced: 29 Oct 2012
- OS: Android 4.2.2 4.2.1 4.2
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 15.3 hours of Talk Time, 390 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS
LG Optimus G
- Announced: 28 Aug 2012
- OS: Android 4.1.2 4.0.4
- Hardware: Quad core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 2048 MB RAM
- Display: 4.7 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 13 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 15 hours of Talk Time, 335 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE HSPA (unspecified) UMTS EDGE GPRS
Nokia Lumia 920
- Announced: 05 Sep 2012
- OS: Windows Phone 8
- Hardware: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait, 1024 MB RAM
- Display: 4.5 inches, 768 x 1280 pixels, Capacitive Touchscreen
- Camera 8.7 megapixels, 1920x1080 (1080p HD) video
- Battery: 17 hours of Talk Time, 400 hours of Stand-by
- Technology: GSM (850 900 1800 1900)
- Data: LTE Cat3 Downlink 100 Mbit/s LTE Cat3/4 Uplink 50 Mbit/s HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s UMTS EDGE GPRS

Carriers

Manufacturers

Phone tools

Carriers

Manufacturers

Tablet tools

Phone Links

FTC scolds Apple, Google and Microsoft for bad policing of children apps privacy disclosures

Share:

Share:

6 Comments Follow Following

1. wendygarett (limited) 6 days ago posted on 11 Dec 2012, 05:06 4 1

4. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:31 0 0

2. mercorp posted on 11 Dec 2012, 09:53 0 0

3. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:31 0 0

5. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:35 0 0

6. networkdood posted on 11 Dec 2012, 10:36 0 0

Popular stories

Hot Phones

Interesting stories

Make your Samsung Galaxy S4 sound better with Adapt Sound

Samsung officials confirm 5.9-inch Note III will come at IFA

All from Google I/O 2013

Nokia Lumia 925 - thinnest WP8 smartphone to date

The forbidden fruit: 7 great apps Google does not allow on Play store

Google I/O 2013 is coming, but what will it bring?

10 great personalization apps for Android

Verizon's Nokia Lumia 928 vs AT&T's Nokia Lumia 920

6 Comments
Follow Following